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Africa
Curfew imposed in Chad
Government aims to restore security after claiming that it has defeated rebels.
Last Modified: 08 Feb 2008 07:13 GMT
Up to 20,000 Chadians have fled to
neighbouring Cameroon [AFP]

Chad's government has set a curfew in its capital Ndjamena, the centre and east of the country after rebel and military fighting over the weekend.
 
Nouradine Delwa Kassire Coumakoye, the prime minister, said: "The government has decided to impose a curfew in certain regions from 6.30pm in the evening to 6am in the morning."
He said the move was made to "restore calm in the country and deal with the damage done by the Sudanese army".
 
Sudan denies any association with the opposition alliance which attacked and entered the capital on the weekend but was then repelled by troops.

'Mediation efforts'

 

State-media in Khartoum has even reported that Sudan is trying to mediate a truce between the two sides.

 

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Salah Gosh, the intelligence forces chief, is quoted as saying: "Sudan called for the evacuation of the opposition from Ndjamena and the opposition agreed.

 

"We have joined efforts with the Libyans on reaching a ceasefire."
 
Idriss Deby, the president, also called on Thursday for an EU peacekeeping force to assist his troops.
 
On French radio, Deby, 55, said: "I issue a solemn call to the European Union and France to do the necessary so this force [deploys] as quickly as possible to lighten the load we bear today."
 
Deby claimed on Wednesday that the government had pushed the rebels back to the borders of Chad.
 
However, French ministers said that reconnaissance by their military aircraft found opposition fighters to be regrouping, albeit slowly, outside the capital.
 
It is thought that some fighters are hiding in the civilian population.
 
France, Chad's former colonial ruler, has a military base in the country and has said it will support the government militarily.
 
Tense neighbours
 
The Chad government has said that the fighters are Sudanese and backed by the Sudanese government.
 
In video


Death and destruction outside Ndjamena

Chad's president remains defiant

Hundreds die and thousands flee fighting

Both nations have previously accused each other of funding attacks against each other.
 
Deby's government refused a ceasefire offered by the rebels on Tuesday, saying it would be immaterial as they had been defeated.
 
Fighting has eased since Monday. It is unclear how many people have died in the battles but the International Red Cross has said that more than 1,000 people, including many civilians, have been wounded.
 
Displacement is also a considerable problem. The UN refugee agency has said that up to 20,000 locals have fled to neighbouring Cameroon.
 
The Chadian government has called for residents to return to the capital but many are staying away for fear of further fighting.
Source:
Agencies
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